Carex jonesii
Jones' sedge
(c) Anders Hastings, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex jonesii (Jones' sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by compact head, spreading shiny perigynia with many veins, and poorly defined beaks.
Jones' sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, southern California Transverse and Peninsular Ranges, and Warner Mountains in moist places at elevations of 900 to 3,500 meters. Forming dense tufted clusters near the stem base, this sedge has narrow leaves less than 3 millimeters wide and produces a compact inflorescence 0.8 to 2 centimeters long with 6 to 12 millimeters wide spikelets. Growing in tight, clustered clumps, its stems support delicate golden to black flower bracts that create a subtle, textured appearance. Its leaves are characterized by U-shaped sheaths hidden among other leaves, with fine blades clustered near the stem base. The fruit develops as a small, shiny, gold to brown perigynia with intricate venation, typically 1 to 1.8 millimeters long and spreading gracefully within the dense sedge cluster.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 124 sympatric species. Distinguished by compact head, spreading shiny perigynia with many veins, and poorly defined beaks.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist places
Elevation: 900-3500 m
California counties: Fresno, Mono, Los Angeles, Kern, San Bernardino, Alpine, Butte, Glenn, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Siskiyou, Tulare, Tuolumne, Inyo, Riverside, Mariposa, El Dorado, Madera, Plumas, Sierra, Humboldt, Tehama, Colusa, Lassen, Trinity, Lake, Del Norte, Shasta
Outside California: to Washington, Rocky Mountains
How to tell it apart
vs Juncus: Carex stems are triangular when rolled; Juncus stems are round and often hollow with partitions inside.; vs Cyperus: Carex has seeds in individual flasks; Cyperus has umbrella-like flower clusters with flattened ribbon-like spikes.; vs Plantago: Carex has triangular stems and brown/green spikelets; Plantago has round flower stalks and white/brown spike flowers.; vs Eleocharis: Carex has leaves along the stem; Eleocharis is nearly leafless with just one spikelet per stem.; vs Schoenoplectus: Carex has leafy stems and flask-enclosed seeds; Schoenoplectus has leafless round stems with exposed seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carex jonesii native to California?
Yes. Carex jonesii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex jonesii grow?
Carex jonesii occurs in Fresno, Mono, Los Angeles, Kern, San Bernardino, Alpine, Butte, Glenn and other counties, at elevations of 900-3500 m.
What plant family does Carex jonesii belong to?
Carex jonesii is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex jonesii grow in?
Carex jonesii grows in Moist places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.